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La voz del pueblo. January 3, 1891, Image 1

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La Voz del Pueblo

La Voz del Pueblo ("The Voice of the People") was published weekly in Las Vegas, New Mexico, from June 14, 1890, until February 10, 1927. Established in 1835, Las Vegas grew quickly due to its position on the Santa Fe Trail. In August of 1846 the town witnessed General Stephen Watts Kearny's proclamation taking control of New Mexico for the United States. The town continued to grow after the arrival of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad in 1879, and became New Mexico's largest and most commercially active city by 1900. However, by the 1920s Las Vegas began to decline, largely because much of the railroad activity had moved south to Albuquerque.

Prior to the paper's establishment in Las Vegas, La Voz del Pueblo had been based in Santa Fe, under the direction of Enrique H. Salazar and Nestor Montoya, who operated the paper from February 2, 1889, until June 7, 1890. Montoya later served as editor of Albuquerque's La Bandera Americana ("The American Flag"). During this time territorial leaders increased their control of the press by becoming publishers themselves. Felix Martinez, the Unions People's party leader, bought La Voz del Pueblo in 1890. In the early issues it advocated Martinez's political views. By 1900, however, the paper strongly supported the Democrats. In 1904, Ezequiel C. de Baca had joined Martinez as the paper's treasurer. De Baca went on to become New Mexico's second governor in 1917. Martinez continued to manage La Voz del Pueblo until June 1917, when Antonio Lucero, who had been with the paper since 1893, became its president.

La Voz del Pueblo was published on Saturdays, and its motto explains its dedication to "the interests and progress of the Spanish-American people." Early issues spanned four pages and covered mainly local news, but also included sections on literature, almost exclusively in Spanish. Some national and international news, such as coverage of the Spanish-American War, was also included. By 1917, the paper had increased to eight pages, divided into sections, mostly in Spanish, on local, national, and international news; editorials; literature; agriculture; and health and beauty.

In 1892, a subscription to La Voz del Pueblo cost $2.50 per year; $1.50 for six months; and $1.00 for four months. In 1909, N.W. Ayer & Son's American Newspaper Annual stated that the Democratic La Voz del Pueblo had a circulation of 3,050, outselling Las Vegas's Republican paper, El Independiente ("The Independent"), by over two thousand copies.